I am not as devoted a daytime watcher as others, but I have watched enough to feel like this might be a worthwile discussion.

Sometimes we watch soaps for purely entertainment purposes. We aren’t always looking for the most stellar acting or believable storylines. But every once in a while, a story comes up that just gets to us. It can be sad or happy, but when we think about that story, or that particular episode, we smile or even shed a tear or two. When I was recovering from bronchitis earlier this year I spent a lot of time on You Tube revisiting some storylines that still bring an emotional reaction out of me.

Here are some that come to mind.

1) Luke and Reid: Reid’s death, As the World Turns– I know that many might prefer Luke with Noah, and certainly their relationship broke a lot of new ground on daytime tv. But I have always believed that Luke and Reid took things to a whole new level. Their dynamic was fresh and interesting. They behaved like a real couple…they talked the way my hubby and I still talk to each other after ten years. We can be sappy at times, but more often than not, we are being sarcastic and snippy with each other.

Now lord knows I had some problems with this storyline. To have Reid die just seemed random, and the lengths the show went to to avoid having Luke and Reid sleep together were completely laughable. But the stellar acting of Van Hansis and Eric Scheffer Stevens(who should have won an Emmy for creating such a rich, original character in such a short period) just elevated everything. Even now when I watch the scenes of Reid’s death, I still get choked up. I don’t know why; but it just gets to me everytime. I watched it not more than an hour ago and still I get the sniffles.

2_Lucky’s Death, General Hospital

Coming off of the extraordinary revisiting of Luke raping Laura, I wasn’t sure where the show would go. But to then have Lucky “die” was just a stroke of genius. Pay particular attention to the stellar acting of Anthony Geary and Genie Francis in the episodes where Luke tells Laura about Lucky, and then takes her to identify the burned body in the morgue. Francis should have definitely won the Emmy that year, just for the scene where she verbally attacks Sonny and Jason, then turning on Luke. And Geary’s reels that year were equally as powerful, rightfully winning the Emmy that year.

3) Margo’s Rape, As the World Turns

I remember seeing this episode and thinking that it just stunned that such a strong character would be put in a vulnerable position. I remember being home from school and watching the rape happen, and being completely stunned. Such great work my the magnificent Ellen Dolan, who really never got another storyline that matched the greatness she showed here.

—-Let me put it this way, I was just an INFANT in my mother’s arms when this aired, but Karen’s testimony at Viki’s trial was to me, the GOLD STANDARD of soap opera acting and has impacted me since the moment I first saw it on “A Daytime to Remember” in the mid-90’s. Judith Light simply delivered a brauva performance.

—-Marty’s Rape: This is really the story that got me hooked on OLTL and at the time the show was just soooo great. The combination of Susan Haskell’s vulnerable performance, Roger Howarth’s strong psychotic character and Hillary B. Smith’s epic force was simply amazing.

GH:

–Luke & Laura’s divorce to me is one of the finest moments in daytime history. When Laura finally confronts Luke about his raping her and bravely declares “How, How could you call me your angel and RAPE ME? HOW” and promptly serves him with divorce papers (yes, I’m obviously simplifying the storyline) was just really excellent. The writing, the acting, the pacing, it was all fantastic.

—The Whole Bobbie/Carly/Tony story has stuck with me for years. I think the thing that really stood out for me was that with Sarah Brown as Carly you really witnessed a star in the making. She came in and just OWNED that role. Slowly but surely she became the centerpiece of the series. TO top it off you had career-making performances from Jackie Zeman and brilliant work by Brad Maule. Also, GH at the time was the master of involving the entire cast it it’s stories, and as this one played out it’s impact reached far beyond the three people in the triangle and eventually has shaped the course of the show’s history. Personally I’m just mesmerized everytime I see clips from this story and am AMAZED that Jackie Zeman didn’t win an Emmy for her work in which Bobbie finally realizes that Carly and Tony are sleeping together and just lets them both have it.

AMC:

—There are so many moments, but one that stands out for me is Maria’s death. It was a fantastic time for AMC between 1995-1998 and this took place in the middle of that. I love that they involved the entire canvas in this story and that it’s impact continued to play out for years. Eva La Rue was thrilling as Maria rolled away to her death and begged Brooke to save her baby. Brooke was guilt ridden when she realized Maria had taken her seat and that’s why she died. Edmund’s grief was papable and Brooke’s horror grew worse as she eventually learned that her boyfriend Jim was behind the plane blowing up and was even more disgusting than she could have imagined. It was a fantastic time for AMC.

Also, Bianca coming out was simply LIFE-DEFINING for me. I was a scared gay kid and needed a role model and Bianca, the daughter of none other than my idol, Erica Kane being gay was it for me. It crushed me anytime Greenlee would call her “Les Bianca”.

–Luke & Laura’s divorce to me is one of the finest moments in daytime history. When Laura finally confronts Luke about his raping her and bravely declares “How, How could you call me your angel and RAPE ME? HOW” and promptly serves him with divorce papers (yes, I’m obviously simplifying the storyline) was just really excellent. The writing, the acting, the pacing, it was all fantastic.

–Luke & Laura’s divorce to me is one of the finest moments in daytime history. When Laura finally confronts Luke about his raping her and bravely declares “How, How could you call me your angel and RAPE ME? HOW” and promptly serves him with divorce papers (yes, I’m obviously simplifying the storyline) was just really excellent. The writing, the acting, the pacing, it was all fantastic.

I am not sure what she submitted in the past, but I thought I read someplace that the morgue scene where Laura chews out Sonny, Luke and Jason was part of her reel for her nominated work in 1997. I could be wrong though.

Genie Francis was nominated in 1997 for her work in 1996. That was the year the Cassadines came to Port Charles and we found out Laura had a son during her time on the islands. Nikolas donated his bone marrow to save Lulu. Francis lost to Jess Walton.

Lucky “died” in 1999. Tony Geary won that year and Francis wasn’t even nominated.

So many to think of. Unfortunately, I came into the genre in the decade it went downhill.

I have two and it’s romance related. The scorching Deacon/Brooke/Bridget storyline on B&B and the insanely hot, dark, and twisted Jonathan and Tammy lovestory on GL. Both made me went from a casual viewer of those shows, to a superfan.

Genie Francis was nominated in 1997 for her work in 1996. That was the year the Cassadines came to Port Charles and we found out Laura had a son during her time on the islands. Nikolas donated his bone marrow to save Lulu. Francis lost to Jess Walton.

Lucky “died” in 1999. Tony Geary won that year and Francis wasn’t even nominated.

Thank you for clearing that up. I did know that, I haven’t any idea why I drew a blank.

So many to think of. Unfortunately, I came into the genre in the decade it went downhill.

I have two and it’s romance related. The scorching Deacon/Brooke/Bridget storyline on B&B and the insanely hot, dark, and twisted Jonathan and Tammy lovestory on GL. Both made me went from a casual viewer of those shows, to a superfan.

I have to support Deacon/Brooke/Bridget and then add what followed, that is Sheila and Mary coming to the city and cracking the Forresters from the inside – from Amber going under to Taylor’s shocking (and – for the sake of the story – unfortunately presumed) death of Taylor. What a fantastic year was 2002 for B&B.

I feel like I’ve watched soaps for so long, and while there are quite a few things that have stayed with me for a long time, it’s hard to say which stories had a real impact on me.

On Another World, I think the story of Ryan’s death, or more specifically actually Vicky seeing Ryan in heaven, just moved me, and I still think of that when I think of a love that doesn’t want to let go.

And Rachel and Carl’s love story, as blasphemous as some people feel it was, just really made me believe in a person’s ability to be redeemed if someone cares enough about them.

Wow, I’m sounding like a real sap.

A lot of the DAYS stories from the 90s kind of imprinted themselves on my brain as almost the way soaps should go. The Kristen/Marlena/John story feels like a how-to manual for having a character totally fall from grace over a love triangle.

Will’s coming out story has been kind of haunting for me, too. It’s the expression of a lot of thoughts and feelings that I didn’t even think about having gone through until I was watching it.

And, just to add this on, the most satisfying moment of any soap I’ve ever seen, and probably of any television show or movie I’ve seen, was Carrie punching Sami at her wedding to Austin. It was the culmination of years of frustration and anger and manipulation and lies and Carrie being bulldozed by Sami and always trying to do the right thing and take the high ground.